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I have wanted to do a gift guide for sewists for a long time and am so glad that I am finally on top of things enough to get this out in time. When I started writing my list of recommendations, the list was so long that I decided to break it up into three posts. Today we will be going over the biggest ticket items at $100 or more, next week I will share items between $25 - $100, and then the following week I will talk about those smaller, stocking stuffer priced items.
1 - Serger - If you don't already have a serger, it really is the next step to sewing great knits and professionally finished projects. There are some really expensive sergers out there, but as long as you are OK learning how to thread it, I think most people can get away with a pretty basic one. The Brother 1034 D (or the newer 1034 DX) is the popular choice for a first serger. It was my first serger and lasted me for 10 years. That being said, if you can afford a bit more, the Juki MO 654DE is my current upgrade and it just feels a bit more hefty and reliable. Both are great beginner sergers though.
2 - Professional Scissors - I've had my eye on the Kai S-100 tailoring shears even since I saw my professor using a pair at fashion school. They are big and heavy, but the kind of scissors that you get sharpened and use forever. They are $110, so not cheap, but when you add up all of the scissors I go thru because they get dull, these are probably a deal.
3 - Brabantia Ironing Board - OK, I can't believe that I spent this much on an ironing board, but with how much I iron, I now have one at my home as well as much studio. It's super sturdy and the ironing surface area feels huge at 49"x18" which makes preironing wrinkly fabrics so much faster.
4 - Gravity Feed Iron - Is there anything that feels more professional than a gravity feed iron? I've always wanted one and was surprised when doing research for this post that they really arn't that much more expensive than a traditional iron. I currently have my eye on the Silver Star Es -300 setup.
5 - Color Analysis - I got myself a color analysis with Your Color Guru last year and it's changed the way I shop for fabric more than anything else. It gave me the confidence to try to new to me colors and helps me zero in on my color choice when ordering fabric for new projects. The process was super easy (I was able to take all of the photos at home and submit them digitally) and I even had them give me recommendations on makeup colors and the best metals to wear. They were kind enough to give me a coupon code for my followers too. Get 10% off with the affiliate code truebias10.
6 - Projector - The sewing industry is evolving and I definitely think that projector sewing is gaining a lot of traction. When you think about all of the paper waste from printing patterns, plus the time it takes to assemble them, it really does make a lot of sense. I have it on my list of things to try this year for sure. I did some research and on ProjectorSewing.com and the XGIMI Mogo 2 seems to be a great option for starting out, but there are lots of great options depending on your circumstances.
7 - Beatrice Dress Form - Fitting can be so hard, which is why I think that the Beatrice dress forms are so handy for home sewists. I have one of their first models and I use it all of the time. Beatrice uses a 3D model of your body from and iphone app to create a replica of your body. A big investment for sure at $1799 for a base price, but such a cool addition to your sewing tools.
8 - Self Healing Cutting Mat - Getting a large self healing cutting mat and rotary cutter is such a game changer! Especially for cutting those slippery or stretchy fabrics that love to move around. For sewing garments, you really need a large cutting mat so you need to move your fabric as little as possible when cutting out your projects. I recommend getting a cutting mat that fills as much of your cutting table (or dinner table) as possible and at least 30" wide so that you can fold your fabric in half and it fits on the board. The Elan mat has great reviews, is 36" wide and comes in multiple lengths including up to 72".